Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Ellis

I have often thought about this and I remember being, at age 7 -10, fascinated with cars with whitewall tyres. The ones often shod with whitewalls were Mark 1 and 2 Zephyr/Zodiac and the "big" Austins, A90 and A95.

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Following these it was a Cortina Lotus Mark One especially after a family friend bought one brand new in 1965 and I was to enjoy several rides in it.
The Mark 2 Ford Lotus Cortina didn't appeal to me in the same way but one Mark 2 Ford Cortina did - the 1600E.

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Even 48 years after it's introduction in the October of 1967 this model still fascinates me. A school friend's father bought of the first ones around here, a Silver Fox example, GEY 772F, the one with the raised gauges binnacle. I nearly bought two, the last only 3 years ago, a Saluki Bronze 1968 model. All in all, the best car I never owned.
I may yet succumb.

But of all of the cars I have admired, to me, the real icon is still one of these :

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A Mark One Ford Escort RS1600.
I was offered two. The first was an ex competition vehicle with roll cages which really put me off despite a registration 1082 K in 1979.
And then I made what the biggest car mistake ever, before or since. In March 1981 I was offered a September 1972 "L" "base" version. First owned by Kwiks for Ford in Chester and two ex employees it was completely original even down to it's steel wheels. 48k miles from new.

I had just bought the second Triumph Stag and my conscience prickled despite my mother telling me to buy it because I did have the funds without the need to borrow.

I still kick myself 34 years later because I know I would still own it today.

Which were your icons?
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4231 Location: South Cheshire

As a kid I remember hearing the burble of a Stag Smile

I remember as a teenager walking home from the centre of Chester one November evening, and hearing a rumble approaching, it was the works Audi Team in their Quarttro's , presumably heading to their hotel the day before the start of the RAC Rally.....I have a Stag but not yet a Quattro!

I knew the old Quicks of Chester you mention well, must be one of the few garages where the service department was on the first floor!

Dave

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7211 Location: Edinburgh

Sunbeam Rapiers in the Monte driven by Peter Harper and reported by Raymond Baxter.

...and Jaguars.

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7079 Location: Derby

One of my school friends would turn up in a magnificent dark green Jaguar Mk V11M driven by his father. The car was quite the most sumptuous vehicle I had ever been in. I remember comparing it with my Great Aunt's Bentley. From memory, the S1 Bentley was stately; it had a firm ride and you sat high up in it, while the Jaguar looked exciting and the ride was more comfortable and welcoming, somehow.

Years later, I missed the chance of owning the Jag because I listened to my other half who was horrified at the fuel consumption. I have often kicked myself for not buying the Mk V11M because it would have been an absolute bargain, even then.

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7211 Location: Edinburgh

Father's cars of school classmates was a problem.

Whilst we had the basic A40 Devon woodie from my father's work another's father always had a Jaguar and went through the sequence from a MkIV onwards as the years progressed.

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

The mk1 Ford Consul was my favourite. That's why I bought one as my first runaround.
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The Clan Chieftain

47Jag · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2015 2:54 pm Post subject:

Two cars stick in my mind from my youth. The MKV Jaguar that the boss of our work had and a MKIII Sunbeam Talbot 90 Supreme that I used to stop and ogle at the chain works that I cycled past on my way home. I still think the styling was just perfect.

The Jag. was probably had a subliminal influence on me when aged 20 I bought a black 1948 MKIV Jaguar. For my 70th. birthday I bought a black Jaguar XF on the basis it would probably be my last car.

Art

badhuis · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1467 Location: Netherlands

52classic · Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 493 Location: Cardiff.

King of 'cool,' then as now, has to be the Triumph Stag. The yellow one in Diamonds Are Forever does it for me and taking the hovercraft to France has to be the coolest situation for an iconic car. My mind's eye sees Moneypenny in a crochet dress - but sadly, Youtube says I'm mistaken!

MK1 Escort Twin Cam is iconic for me, Blue quilted Rally Jacket essential, but an Anglia 105e was the closest I ever came to owning one.

Then I have an urge top put a Citroen DS23 on the list. So much a 'car for our times' Corderoy jacket with elbow patches.comes with that one.

peppiB · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 12:41 pm Post subject:

Growing up in the 50's with pre war cars (we had a 1938 Austin 10 Cambridge) the launch of the Mini, and then especially the Mini Cooper opened the door to another world. Mate had a Cooper in the days when it was possible for a teenager to insure such a beast. He turned it over into a field and a fence post went through the windcreen exactly between him and his brother who was sitting in the front seat. Miracle they survived

Ashley · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 1426 Location: Near Stroud, Glos

My uncle was an artist and he did a painting that made him famous so he bought a new Alvis Grey Lady DHC and my dad was a dentist and one of his friends was in Harley St, so he had an XK150. These two were pretty special along with a MKVI Bentley. When I first started at school and ended up in Stroud there used to be one parked outside Millets. It belonged to the owner of a local factory and it was often there till the seventies. This is why I bought one.

badhuis · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1467 Location: Netherlands

On my 3 mile route to school on the bike when I was 12, every morning I hoped I would see the Jensen go past me. I think I only actually saw it on the road 4 or 5 times, light blue with a big roar.
Later I found out it belonged to a bank director who lived a couple of streets away from our house. I would often detour in the evening to see if the Interceptor was on the drive so I could get a glimpse, but except for one time it was always in the garage.
This had wanting me to own an Interceptor ever since.
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a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment

BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

Mk1 Escort/Saab 96, either if they were airborne, and I remember seeing the local boss of a Ford dealership driving past myself and two school friends in an aubergine purple Capri GTXLR, before they were on sale. We just stood and Gawped.
There was a man who washed his Honda S800 coupe on his drive every Sunday morning, and one chap who attended the local church in a boat tail Buick Riviera.
But, my wall poster car was an Alfa Romeo Carabo.

V8 Nutter · Joined: 27 Aug 2012 Posts: 601

Almost anything American, Mark II Zodiac and Vauxhall P.A. at a push, but V8 Pilots were much more affordable.

Dipster · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 6:55 pm Post subject:

Ford GT40 for me. I loved them then and still do. They are really nothing special if you compare them to other, similar, cars of the era but I love the whole package. It worked and got racing results.